I, too, would be very interested in getting a copy of your manual! I would like to see what our group could do with it to help make us more streamlined and cohesive. However, would you be willing to post it to the File Exchange?
This is a great idea. I am hoping that next year we'll have better luck getting our volunteers into position before the year starts. This year, our board has ended up chairing most of our events and both of our fundraisers. We have a large number of parent volunteers in the classroom, but they do not see the importance of helping out the PTA! Very frustrating and it has really taken the wind out of our sails, but we'll keep on keepin' on as they say! I have told our board that if we don't get better participation next year, I am not opposed to canceling a few events. The parents will either step up, in which case we will have accomplished our goal, or they won't, in which case we will heed the message that perhaps less is more. I will e-mail you the PDF file of our manual, which I believe needs some tweaking. Thanks for your input!
I would also be apt to go with the handholding. I don't think that it's possible to be too nice to volunteers. Something else that you might consider, and that we're going to give a try this year, is to hold a training before school starts in the fall for all of your committee chairs. Use this time to go over the manual and answer any questions that they might have. We're also going to use it as a way to let the people who are our biggest participants have a voice in our goals for the upcoming year, and help brainstorm possible ideas for meeting them.
On a slightly related note, would you be willing to share a copy of your manual, either through the file exchange or via email? It's something I've been thinking about putting together, but have never seen done and am not really sure where to start. My email address is tlcbragg AT verizon DOT net.
I appreciate you both taking the time to give me your objective opinions - I'll probably use both pieces of advice. I agree, dlf, I would rather do a bit of handholding if it means keeping my volunteers happy, which is a small price to pay compared to doing all the work myself!
Hi Kristi--I guess I'm more like you. If I get a volunteer, I try to coddle them enough to keep them around. I too would explain the process and then probably end with something like - "we packed a lot of great info in the handbook...if you get a chance check it out...".
I know it is a bit of handholding but I'd hate to put someone off by just referring them to the manual. In fact I know that even on these boards most of us will retype information as opposed to sending the person to a search vehicle. It just doesn't seem as welcoming and supportive to say "do a search on how to run a bingo" even though the threads are very good and very informative.
Personally, I would respond with a polite return email directing them to the correct section in the manual where the answer to their question can be found; do that often enough and maybe they'll get the hint to look there first.
For example: "In regards to your question regarding proper funds handling, the answer can be found in Section 2, Article B (or however you have it set up) of your manual. Please let me know if you need further clarification. Thank you."
